EPA-530-Z-98-006
Wednesday
August 26, 1998
L II 1
Part III
Environmental
Protection Agency
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice III;
Notice
45579
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Federal Register/Vol. 63, No. 165/Wednesday, August 26. 1998/Notices
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[SWH-FRL-6151-9]
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice
III
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency,
ACTION: Notice of draft document for
review.
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA or the Agency) today is
providing notice of the issuance of a
draft Recovered Materials Advisory
Notice (RMAN III) that provides
guidance to procuring agencies for
purchasing certain items containing
recovered materials. Under section 6002
of the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act of 1976. EPA designates
items that are or can be made with
recovered materials and provides
recommendations for the procurement
of these items. Elsewhere in today's
Federal Register. EPA is proposing to
designate the following 19 additional
items: nylon carpet with recycled
content backing, carpet cushion,
flowable fill, railroad grade crossing
surfaces, park and recreational
furniture, playground equipment, food
waste compost, plastic lumber
landscaping timbers and posts, solid
plastic binders, plastic clipboards,
plastic file folders, plastic clip
portfolios, plastic presentation folders,
absorbents and adsorbents, industrial
drums, awards and plaques, mats,
signage, and manual-grade strapping.
Today's draft RMAN III contains
recommended recovered materials
content levels for these items.
DATES: EPA will accept public
comments on the recommendations
contained in the draft RMAN III until
October 26, 1998.
ADDRESSES: To comment on this notice,
please send an original and two copies
of comments to: RCRA Information
Center (5305W), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20460. Please place the
docket number F-98-CP3P-FFFFF on
your comments.
If any information is confidential, it
should be identified as such. An
original and two copies of Confidential
Business Information (CBI) must be
submitted under separate cover to:
Document Control Officer (5305), Office
of Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW.,
Washington. DC 20460.
Documents related to today's notice
are available for viewing at the RCRA
Information Center (RIC), located at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Ground
Floor, Crystal Gateway One, Arlington,
VA 22202. The RIC is open from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday,
except for Federal holidays. The public
must make an appointment to review
docket materials. Call (703) 603-9230
for appointments. Copies cost $.15 per
page.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general information contact the RCRA
Hotline at (800) 424-9346 or TDD (800)
553-7672 (hearing impaired). In the
'Washington, DC metropolitan area, call
(703) 412-9810 or TDD (703) 412-3323.
For technical information on individual
item recommendations, contact Terry
Grist at (703) 308-7257.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :
I. Authority
The draft Recovered Materials
Advisory Notice (RMAN III) is issued
under the authority of sections 2002 (a)
and 6002 of the Solid Waste Disposal
Act, as amended by the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
(RCRA), as amended; 42 U.S.C. 6912(a)
and 2962; and section 502 of Executive
Order 12873 (58 FR 54911, October 20,
1993).
II. Background
Section 6002 of RCRA establishes a
Federal buy-recycled program. RCRA
section 6002 (e) requires EPA to (1)
designate items that are or can be made
with recovered materials and (2) prepare
guidelines to assist procuring agencies
in complying with affirmative
procurement requirements set forth in
paragraphs (c), (d), and (i) of section
6002. Once EPA has designated items,
section 6002 requires that any procuring
agency using appropriated Federal
funds to procure those items must
purchase them composed of the highest
percentage of recovered materials
practicable. For the purposes of RCRA
section 6002, procuring agencies
include the following: (1) any Federal
agency; (2) any State or local agencies
using appropriated Federal funds for a
procurement, or (3) any contractors with
these agencies (with respect to work
performed under the contract). The
requirements of RCRA section 6002
apply to such procuring agencies only
when procuring designated items where
the price of the item exceeds $10,000 or
the quantity of the item purchased in
the previous year exceeded $10,000.
Executive Order 12873 (the Executive
Order) (58 FR 54911, October 22, 1993)
directs EPA to designate items in a
Comprehensive Procurement Guideline
(CPG) and publish guidance that
contains EPA's recommended recovered
content levels for the designated items
in the RMANs. The Executive Order
further directs EPA to update the CPG
annually and the RMANs periodically to
reflect changes in market conditions.
EPA codifies the CPG designations in
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
but, because the recommendations are
guidance, the RMANs are not codified
in the CFR. This process enables EPA to
revise its recommendations in response
to changes in a product's availability or
recovered materials content so as to
provide timely assistance to procuring
agencies in fulfilling their RCRA section
6002 responsibilities.
EPA issued CPG I on May 1, 1995 (60
FR 21370) designating 19 new items and
published RMAN I for the designated
items on the same day (60 FR 21386).
These notices also consolidated the
guidelines previously issued for five
items designated between 1983 and
1989. The first CPG update (CPG II) was
published on November 13, 1997, and
designated an additional 12 products.
Today, in a separate~section of the
Federal Register, EPA is proposing to
designate 19 new items (CPG III).
Today's draft RMAN III recommends
recovered materials content levels and
procurement guidance for these 19 new
items: nylon carpet with backing
containing recovered materials, carpet
cushion, flowable fill, railroad grade
crossing surfaces, park and recreational
furniture, playground equipment, food
waste compost, plastic lumber
landscaping timbers and posts, solid
plastic binders, plastic clipboards,
plastic file folders, plastic clip
portfolios, plastic presentation folders,
absorbents and adsorbents, industrial
drums, awards and plaques, mats,
signage, and manual-grade strapping.
Once finalized, today's RMAN will
serve as companion guidance to the
previous RMANs.
EPA, once again, wants to stress that
the recommendations in RMAN III are
just that—recommendations and
guidance to procuring agencies in
fulfilling their obligations under RCRA
section 6002. The designation of an item
as one that is or can be produced with
recovered materials and the inclusions
of recommended content levels for an
item in the RMAN does not compel the
procurement of an item when the item
is not suitable for its intended purpose.
RCRA section 6002 is explicit in this
regard when it authorizes a procuring
agency not to procure a designated item
which "fails to meet the performance
standards set forth in the applicable
specification or fails to meet the
reasonable performance standards of the
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Federal Register/Vol. 63, No. 165/Wednesday, August 26, 1998/Notices
45581
procuring agencies." Section 6002(1)(B),
42U.S.C. 6962(c)(B).
Thus, for example, in the proposal
section of today's Federal Register, EPA
has proposed to designate railroad grade
crossing surfaces as items that are or can
be made with recovered materials. The
Agency's research shows that these
items can be made with rubber, cement,
or steel containing recovered materials.
If EPA adopts the proposed designation
and recommendations for railroad grade
crossing surfaces, however, the mere
fact that they are available containing
recovered materials does not require the
use of rubber, steel, or concrete railroad
grade crossing surfaces in every
circumstance. The choice of appropriate
materials to be used in construction
applications remains with project
engineers, construction contracts, and,
in the case of buildings, architects. The
effect of designation (and RCRA section
6002) is simply to require the purchase
of items containing recovered materials
where consistent with the purpose for
which the item is to be used. Procuring
agencies remain free to procure
designated items made from other
materials where the design
specifications call for other materials.
However, agencies must affirmatively
determine whether items containing
recovered materials meet their
performance needs.1
A. Methodology for Recommending
Recovered Materials Content Levels
In providing guidance in the RMANs,
the Executive Order directs EPA to
present "the range of recovered
materials content levels within which
the designated recycled items are
currently available." Based on the
information available to the Agency,
EPA recommends ranges that encourage
manufacturers to incorporate the
maximum amount of recovered
materials into their products without
compromising competition or product
performance and availability. EPA
recommends that procuring agencies
use these ranges, in conjunction with
their own research, to establish
minimum content standards for use in
purchasing the designated items. EPA
recommends ranges rather than
minimum standards for several reasons:
First, the Executive Order directs EPA
to develop ranges, not minimum content
1 See also the revisions to the Federal Acquisition
Regulation requiring that the statement of work for
facility design contracts "shall require that the
architect-engineer specify, in the construction
design specifications, use of the maximum
practicable amount of recovered materials
consistent with the performance requirements,
availability, price reasonableness, and cost-
effectiveness." (62 FR 44812, August 22, 1997,
revising 48 CFR 36.601-3(a).)
standards or specific recovered
materials levels.
Second, EPA has only limited
information on recovered materials
content levels for the new items
proposed for designation. It would not
be appropriate to establish minimum
content standards without more detailed
information because the standards may
be treated as maximum targets by
manufacturers and may stifle innovative
approaches for increasing recovered
material use. EPA hopes that the use of
ranges will encourage manufacturers
producing at the low end of the
recovered materials range to seek ways
of increasing their recovered materials
usage. Minimum content standards are
less likely to encourage such
innovation.
Third, many items are purchased
locally rather than centrally. As a result,
the recovered materials content of the
items are likely to vary from region to
region depending on local cost and
availability of recovered materials.
Minimum content standards are
unlikely to be effective given the
regional variance in recovered materials
content because minimum content
levels that are appropriate for one
region, may be excessively high or low
for other regions. A recovered materials
content range gives regional procuring
agencies the flexibility to establish their
own recovered materials content
standards and to make them as high as
possible, consistent with the statute,
given local product availability and
market conditions.
EPA reviewed publicly-available
information, information obtained from
product manufacturers, and information
provided by other government agencies
regarding the percentages of recovered
materials available in the items
proposed for designation in CPG III.
Based on this information, EPA
established ranges of recovered
materials content for the proposed
designated items. In some instances,
EPA recommends a specific content
level (e.g., 100 percent recovered
materials), rather than a range, because
the item is universally available at that
recommended level, the item contains
100% recovered materials, or that level
is the maximum content currently used
in that item.
In establishing the ranges, EPA's
objective was to ensure the availability
of the item, while challenging
manufacturers to increase their use of
recovered materials. By recommending
ranges, EPA believes that sufficient
information will be provided to enable
procuring agencies to set appropriate
procurement specifications when
purchasing the newly designated items.
It is EPA's intention to provide
procuring agencies with the best and
most current information available to
assist them in fulfilling their statutory
obligations under RCRA section 6002.
To do this, EPA will monitor the
progress made by procuring agencies in
purchasing designated items with the
highest practical recovered materials
content levels and will adjust the
recommended content ranges as
appropriate. EPA anticipates that the
recommended ranges will narrow over
time as other items become more
available, although for technical
reasons, many may never be available
with 100 percent recovered materials
content levels.
Under RCRA section 6002(1), it is each
procuring agency's responsibility to
establish minimum content standards,
while EPA provides recommendations
regarding the levels of recovered
materials in the designated items. To
make it clear that EPA does not
establish minimum content standards
for other agencies, EPA refers to its
recommendations as "recovered
materials content levels," consistent
with RCRA section 6002 (e) and the
Executive Order.
More information on EPA's
methodology for recommending
recovered materials content levels for
designated items is contained in
"Background Document for Proposed
CPG III and Draft RMAN III," located in
the RCRA public docket for this notice.
B. Definitions
Today's draft RMAN III contains
recommendations on the recovered
materials content levels and
postconsumer materials content levels
at which the designated items are
generally available. For several items
being proposed for designation, this
RMAN recommends two-part content
levels—a postconsumer recovered
materials content component and a total
recovered materials component. In these
instances, EPA found that both types of
materials were being used to
manufacture a product. Recommending
only postconsumer content levels would
fail to acknowledge the contribution to
solid waste management made when
manufacturers use, as feedstock, the
byproducts of other manufacturing
processes that would otherwise be
destined for disposal as solid waste. The
terms "recovered materials" and
"postconsumer materials" are defined
in 40 CFR 247.3. These definitions are
repeated here as a reference for the
convenience of the reader. The Agency
is not proposing to change these
definitions and will not consider any
comments submitted on these terms.
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Federal Register/Vol. 63, No. 165/Wednesday, August 26, 1998/Notices
Postconsumer materials means a material
or finished product that has served its
Intended end use and has been diverted or
recovered from waste destined for disposal,
having completed its life as a consumer item.
Postconsumer material is part of the broader
category of recovered materials.
Recovered materials means waste materials
and byproducts which have been recovered
or diverted from solid waste, but such term
does not Include those materials and
byproducts generated from, and commonly
used within an original manufacturing
process.
C. Request for Comments
EPA requests comments, including
additional supporting documentation
and information, on the types of
recovered materials identified in the
Item recommendations, the
recommended recovered and
postconsumer materials content levels,
and other recommendations for
purchasing the designated items
containing recovered materials. EPA
requests specific comments and
Information on the following issues:
• Whether any specifications exist or
are appropriate for park benches or
picnic tables made from steel or
aluminum containing recovered
materials;
• Whether any specifications exist or
are appropriate ifor solid plastic binders
containing recovered materials;
• Whether any specifications or
standards exist for awards or plaques
containing recovered materials; and
• Whether any specifications or
standards exist for mats containing
recovered materials.
III. Supporting Information and
Accessing Internet
The index of supporting materials for
today's draft RMAN III is available in
the RCRA Information Center (RIC) and
on EPA's Internet web page. The
address and telephone number of the
RIC are provided in ADDRESSES above.
The index and the following supporting
materials are available on the Internet:
"Background Document for Proposed
CPG III and Draft RMAN in," EPA530-
R-98-003, U.S. EPA. Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response, April,
1998.
Copies of the following supporting
materials are available for viewing at the
RIC only:
"Recovered Materials Product
Research for the Comprehensive
Procurement Guideline III," Draft
Report, September 26, 1997.
Follow these instructions to access
information electronically:
WWW: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/
non-hw/procure.htm.
FTP: ftp.epa.gov
Login: anonymous
Password: your Internet address
Files are located in /pub/epaoswer.
Dated: August 19, 1998.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice
ra
The following represents EPA's draft
recommendations to procuring agencies
for purchasing the items proposed today
for designation in the Comprehensive
Procurement Guideline III, in
compliance with section 6002 of the
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA). These recommendations
are intended to be used in conjunction
with RMAN I (60 FR 21386, May 1,
1995), the Paper Products RMAN (61 FR
26985, May 29, 1996), and RMAN II (62
FR 60975, November 13, 1997). Refer to
the previous RMANs or the Code of
Federal Regulations at 40 CFR Part 247
for definitions, general
recommendations for affirmative
procurement programs, and
recommendations for previously
designated items.
Contents
I. General Recommendations
II. Specific Recommendations for
Procurement of Designated Items
Part C. Construction Products
Section C-8. Nylon Carpet (Broadloom and
Tiles) Made with Backing Containing
Recovered Materials
Section C-9. Carpet Cushion Made from
Bonded Polyurethane, Jute, Synthetic
Fibers, or Rubber Containing Recovered
Materials
Section C-10. Flowable Fill Containing
Coal Fly Ash and/or Ferrous Foundry
Sands
Section C-l 1. Railroad Grade Crossing
Surfaces Containing Coal Fly Ash,
Recovered Rubber, or Recovered Steel
Part E. Park and Recreation Products
Section E-3. Park Benches and Picnic
Tables Containing Recovered Steel,
Aluminum, Plastic, or Concrete
Section E-4. Playground Equipment
Containing Recovered Plastic, Steel, or
Aluminum
Part F. Landscaping Products
Section F-2. Compost Made from Yard
Trimmings and/or Food Waste (Revised)
Section F-5. Plastic Lumber Landscaping
Timbers and Posts Containing Recovered
Materials
Part G. Non-Paper Office Products
Section G-8. Solid Plastic Binders, Plastic
Clipboards, Plastic File Folders, Plastic
Clip Portfolios, and Plastic Presentation
Folders Containing Recovered Plastic
Part H. Miscellaneous Products
Section H-2. Sorbents Containing
Recovered Materials for Use in Oil and
Solvent Clean-ups and as Animal
Bedding
Section H-3. Industrial Drums Containing
Recovered Steel, Plastic, and Paper
Section H-4. Awards and Plaques
Containing Recovered Glass, Wood,
Paper, or Plastic
Section H-5. Mats Containing Recovered
Rubber and/or Plastic
Section H-6. Manual-Grade Strapping
Containing Recovered Steel and Plastic
Section H-7. Signs Containing Recovered
Plastic or Aluminum and Sign Posts/
Supports Containing Recovered Plastic
or Steel
I. General Recommendations
(See the May 1, 1995 RMAN I for EPA's
general recommendations for
definitions, specifications, and
affirmative procurement programs.)
II. Specific Recommendations for
Procurement of Designated Items
(See the May 1, 1995 RMAN I, the May
29, 1996 Paper Products RMAN, and the
November 13, 1997 RMAN II for
recommendations for previously-
designated items.)
Part C—Construction Products
Note: Refer to Part F—Landscaping
Products for additional items that can be
used in construction applications.
Section C-8. Nylon Carpet (Broadloom
and Tiles) Made With Backing
Containing Recovered Materials
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table C-8, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards
for use in purchasing nylon broadloom
carpet and carpet tiles made with
backing containing recovered materials.
EPA further recommends that Federal
procuring agencies use GSA's carpet
contract GS-OOF-8453-A when
purchasing nylon broadloom carpet or
carpet tiles made with backing
containing recovered materials.
TABLE C-8.—RECOMMENDED RECOV-
ERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS
FOR BACKING FOR NYLON BROAD-
LOOM AND CARPET TILES
Material
Old carpets
Postconsumer
content (%)
35-70
Total re-
covered
materials
content
100
Note: EPA's recommendation does not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing
broadloom carpet or carpet tiles made from
another material, such as wool. It simply
requires that procuring agencies, when
purchasing nylon broadloom carpet or carpet
tiles, purchase these items made with
backing containing recovered materials when
they meet applicable specifications and
performance requirements. Refer to Section
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45583
C-4 in RMAN I for EPA's recommendations
for purchasing polyester carpet containing
recovered materials.
Specifications: EPA recommends that
procuring agencies review their carpet
specifications and revise them as
necessary to permit the use of backing
containing recovered materials.
Section C-9. Carpet Cushion Made
From Bonded Polyurethane, Jute,
Synthetic Fibers, or Rubber Containing
Recovered Materials
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table C-9, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards
for use in purchasing bonded
polyurethane, jute, synthetic fiber, or
rubber carpet cushion containing
recovered materials.
TABLE C-9.—RECOMMENDED RECOV-
ERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS
FOR BONDED POLYURETHANE, JUTE,
SYNTHETIC FIBER, AND RUBBER
CARPET CUSHION
TABLE C-9.—RECOMMENDED RECOV-
ERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS
FOR BONDED POLYURETHANE, JUTE,
SYNTHETIC FIBER, AND RUBBER
CARPET CUSHION—Continued
Product
Synthetic
fibers.
Rubber
Material
Carpet
fabrica-
tion
scrap.
Tire rubber
Post
con-
sumer
content
(%)
60-90
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
(%)
100
60-90
Product
Bonded
poly-
urethane.
Jute
Material
Old carpet
cushion.
Burlap
Post
con-
sumer
content
(%)
15-50
40
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
(%)
15-50
40
Note: EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing
another type of carpet cushion. They simply
require that procuring agencies, when
purchasing bonded polyurethane, jute,
synthetic fiber, or rubber carpet cushions,
purchase these items made with recovered
materials when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements.
Refer to Section C-4 in RMAN I for EPA's
recommendations for purchasing polyester
carpet containing recovered materials.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of
carpet cushion specifications unique to
carpet cushions containing recovered
materials. Therefore, EPA recommends
that procuring agencies use the
standards set by the Carpet and Rug
Institute and the Carpet Cushion
Council when purchasing bonded
polyurethane, jute, synthetic fiber, or
rubber carpet cushion containing
recovered materials.
Section C-10. Flowable Fill Containing
Coal Fly Ash and/or Ferrous Foundry
Sands
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that procuring agencies
use flowable fill containing coal fly ash
and/or ferrous foundry sands for backfill
and other fill applications. EPA further
recommends that procuring agencies
include provisions in all construction
contracts involving backfill or other fill
applications, to allow for the use of
flowable fill containing coal fly ash and/
or ferrous foundry sands, where
appropriate.
The specific percentage of coal fly ash
or ferrous foundry sands used in
flowable fill depend on the specifics of
the job, including the type of coal fly
ash used (Class C or Class F); the
strength, set time, and flowability
needed; and bleeding and shrinkage.
Therefore, EPA is not recommending
specific coal fly ash or ferrous foundry
sands content levels for procuring
agencies to use in establishing
minimum content standards for
flowable fill. EPA recommends that
procuring agencies refer to the mix
proportions in Tables C-lOa and C-lOfa
for typical proportions for high and low
coal fly ash content mixes. EPA further
recommends that procuring agencies
refer to American Concrete Institute
(ACI) report ACI 229R-94 for guidance
on the percentages of coal fly ash that
can be used in flowable fill mixtures.
TABLE C-10A.—TYPICAL PROPORTIONS FOR HIGH FLY ASH CONTENT FLOWABLE FILLS
Component
Fly ash (95%)
Cement (5%)
Added water
Total
Range kg/m3 (Ib/yd3)
949 to 1542 (1600 to 2600)
47 to 74 (80 to 125)
222 to 371 (375 to 625)
Mix design
kg/m3 (Ib/yd3)
1^94. forifu\\
co HfM\
*OA~7 {AiK\
1543 (2600)
* Equal to 189 liters (50 gallons).
Source: "Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers," FHWA-SA-94-081, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration Au-
gust 1995.
TABLE C-1 OB.—TYPICAL PROPORTIONS FOR Low FLY ASH CONTENT FLOWABLE FILLS
Component
Fly ash (6% to 14%)t
Cement
Sand
Added water
Total
Range kg/m3 (Ib/yd3)
1 1 9 to 297 (200 to 500)
30 to 119 (50 to 200)
1483 to 1780 (2500 to 3000)
198 to 494 (333 to 833)
Mix Design
kg/m3 (Ib/yd3)
17ft c*r\ri\
en /-inn\
"\^AO /op.nn\
*OQ7 fflftfYl
2076 (3500)
t High calcium fly ash is used in lower amounts than low calcium fly ash.
* Equal to 227 liters (60 gallons).
Source: "Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers," FHWA-SA-94-081, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Au-
cjust
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Federal Register/Vol. 63, No. 165/Wednesday, August 26, 1998/Notices
Spec/flcatfons.'The following
recommendations address mix designs,
test methods, and performance
standards.
• Mix designs. EPA recommends that
procuring agencies use ACI report
ACI229R-94, "Controlled Low Strength
Materials (CLSM)" and "Fly Ash Facts
for Highway Engineers," (FHWA-SA-
94-081, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Federal Highway
Administration, August 1995) in
developing mix designs. Among other
things, ACI229R-94 addresses materials,
including coal fly ash and foundry
sands, mix design, and mixing,
transporting, and placing. It also
provides examples of mixture designs
containing coal fly used by the states of
Iowa, Florida, Illinois, Indiana,
Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio, and South
Carolina. "Fly Ash Facts for Highway
Engineers" addresses materials,
strength, flowability, time of set,
bleeding and shrinkage.
A mix design for the use of foundry
sand and coal fly ash in flowable fill
was developed for Ford Motor
Company. Procuring agencies can obtain
a copy of this design by contacting the
RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346.
Table C-lOc provides the recommended
trial mixture from this specification.
TABLE C-10c.—MATERIALS QUAN-
TITIES FOR FLOWABLE FILL MIXTURE
CONTAINING FOUNDRY SANDS AND
COAL FLY ASH
TABLE C-10D — RECOMMENDED TEST
METHODS FOR FLOWABLE FILLS
(CONTROLLED LOW STRENGTH MA-
TERIALS)
Component
Cement
Coal fly ash
Foundry sand
Water
Quantity
per cubic
yard
(Ibs.)
50
250
2850
500
• Materials specifications and test
methods. EPA recommends that
procuring agencies use ACI229R-94 and
the ASTM standards listed in Table C-
lOd when purchasing flowable fill or
contracting for construction that
Involves backfilling or other fill
applications.
EPA recommends that procuring
agencies refer to ASTM C 33-93,
"Standard Specification for Concrete
Aggregates," for appropriate gradation
requirements for ferrous foundry sands
used as aggregates in flowable fills.
Procuring agencies should note that
ferrous foundry sands may need to be
blended with natural sand or other fine
aggregate to meet the C 33-93 gradation
requirements.
ASTM speci-
fication NO.
D 4832-95e1
D 5239-92 ...
D 5971-96 ...
D 6103-07 ...
D 6023-96 ...
D 5971-96 ...
D 6024-96 ...
Title
Standard Test Method for
Preparation and Testing of
Controlled Low Strength
Material (CLSM) Test Cyl-
inders.
Standard Practice for Charac-
terizing Fly Ash for Use in
Soil Stabilization.
Standard Practice for Sam-
pling Freshly Mixed Con-
trolled Low Strength Mate-
rial.
Standard Test Method for
Flow Consistency of Con-
trolled Low Strength Mate-
rial.
Standard Test Method for Unit
Weight, Yield, Cement Con-
tent and Air Content
(Gravimetric) of Controlled
Low Strength Material
(CLSM).
Standard Practice for Sam-
pling Freshly Mixed Con-
trolled Low Strength Mate-
rial.
Standard Test Method for Ball
Drop on Controlled Low
Strength Material (CLSM) to
Determine Suitability for
Load Application.
• State specifications. The following
states have specifications for flowable
fill containing coal fly ash: California,
Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire,
New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio,
Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and
Wisconsin.
The state of Ohio has a specification
entitled "Flowable Fill Made with Spent
Foundry Sand," and the states of
Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Indiana
are developing specifications for using
foundry sands in flowable fill.
If needed, procuring agencies can
obtain state specifications from the
respective state transportation
departments and adapt them for use in
their programs. ACI229R-94 includes
mix designs from several of these states.
• Contract specifications. EPA
recommends that procuring agencies
which prepare or review "contract"
specifications for individual
construction projects revise those
specifications to allow the use of
flowable fills containing coal fly ash
and/or ferrous foundry sands.
• Performance standards. EPA
recommends that procuring agencies
review and, if necessary, revise
performance standards relating to fill
materials to insure that they do not
arbitrarily restrict or preclude the use of
flowable fills containing coal fly ash
and/or ferrous foundry sands, either
intentionally or inadvertently, unless
the restriction is justified on a job-by-job
basis: (1) to meet reasonable
performance requirements for fill
materials or (2) because the use of coal
fly ash or ferrous foundry sands would
be inappropriate for technical reasons.
EPA recommends that this justification
be documented based on specific
performance information. Legitimate
documentation of technical infeasibility
can be for certain classes of
applications, rather than on a job-by-job
basis. Agencies should reference such
documentation in individual contract
specifications, to avoid extensive
repetition of previously documented
points. However, procuring agencies
should be prepared to submit such
documentation to scrutiny by interested
parties and should have a review
process available in the event of
disagreements.
Promotion program: EPA
recommends that, as part of the
promotion programs required by section
6002(1) of the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, procuring agencies
conduct demonstration programs for
using flowable fills containing coal fly
ash and/or ferrous foundry sands. EPA
further recommends that procuring
agencies educate construction
contractors about the design, use, and
performance of flowable fills containing
coal fly ash and/or ferrous foundry
sands.
Section C-ll. Railroad Grade Crossing
Surfaces Containing Coal Fly Ash,
Recovered Rubber, or Recovered Steel
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table C-l la, procuring
agencies establish minimum content
standards for use in purchasing
concrete, rubber, and steel railroad
grade crossing surfaces containing
recovered materials.
EPA further recommends that
procuring agencies include provisions
in all concrete railroad grade crossing
construction contracts to allow for the
use, as optional or alternate materials, of
concrete containing coal fly ash, where
appropriate.
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45585
TABLE C-11A.—RECOMMENDED RE-
COVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEV-
ELS FOR CONCRETE, RUBBER, AND
STEEL RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING
SURFACE
Surface
material
Concrete ...
Rubber
Steel
Recovered
material
Coal fly
ash.
Tire rubber
Steel
Post-
con-
sumer
content
16-75
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
15-20
85-95
20-100
Notes: EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing
another type of railroad grade crossing
surface, such as wood or asphalt. They
simply require that procuring agencies, when
purchasing concrete, rubber, or steel grade
crossing surfaces, purchase these items made
with recovered materials when these items
meet applicable specifications and
performance requirements. However, EPA
recommends that procuring agencies
consider using concrete, rubber, or steel
grade crossing surfaces.
The recommended recovered
materials content levels for rubber
railroad grade crossing surfaces are
based on the weight of the raw
materials, exclusive of any additives
such as binders or additives.
Coal fly ash can be used as an
ingredient of concrete slabs, pavements,
or controlled density fill product,
depending on the type of concrete
crossing system installed. Higher
percentages of coal fly ash can be used
in the concrete mixture; the higher
percentages help to produce a more
workable and durable product but can
prolong the curing process.
Specifications: EPA recommends that
procuring agencies use the ASTM
standards listed in Table C-l Ib when
purchasing rubber railroad grade
crossing surfaces. EPA recommends that
procuring agencies use the ASTM and
AASHTO standards listed in Table C-
1 Ic when purchasing concrete railroad
grade crossing surfaces.
TABLE C-11 B.—RECOMMENDED SPEC-
IFICATIONS FOR RUBBER RAILROAD
GRADE CROSSINGS
ASTM speci-
fication No.
D 2000-96 ...
D 2240-97 ...
D 412-97
Title
Rubber Products in Auto-
motive Applications.
Rubber Property—Durometer
Hardness.
Vulcanized Rubber and Ther-
moplastic Rubbers and
Thermoplastic Elastomers—
Tension.
TABLE C-11 B.—RECOMMENDED SPEC-
IFICATIONS FOR RUBBER RAILROAD
GRADE CROSSINGS—Continued
ASTM speci-
fication No.
D 297-93 ..,
E 303-93 ...
D1171-94 .
D 573-88 ...
D 395-89 ...
D 257-93 ...
D 2137-94 .
Title
Rubber Products—Chemical
Analysis.
Measuring Surface Frictional
Properties Using the British
Pendulum Tester.
Rubber Deterioration—Sur-
face Ozone Cracking Out-
doors or Chamber (Tri-
angular Specimens).
Deterioration in an Air Oven.
Rubber Property—Compres-
sion Set.
DC Resistance or Conduct-
ance of Insulating Materials.
Rubber Property—Brittleness
Point of Flexible Polymers
and Coated Fabrics.
TABLE C-11 c.—RECOMMENDED
SPECIFICATIONS FOR CEMENT AND
CONCRETE CONTAINING RECOVERED
MATERIALS
Specification No.
ASTM C 595 ....
ASTM C 150 ....
AASHTO M 240
ASTM C 618 ....
ASTM C 311 ....
Title
Standard Specification for
Blended Hydraulic Ce-
ments.
Standard Specification for
Portland Cement.
Blended Hydraulic Ce-
ments.
Standard Specification for
Fly Ash and Raw or
Calcined Natural
Pozzolan for Use as a
Mineral Admixture in
Portland Cement Con-
crete.
Standard Methods of Sam-
pling and Testing Fly
Ash and Natural
Pozzolans for Use as a
Mineral Admixture in
Portland Cement Con-
crete.
PartE. Park and Recreation Products
Section E-3. Picnic Tables and Park
Benches Containing Recovered Steel,
Aluminum, or Plastic
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table E-3a, procuring
agencies establish minimum content
standards for use in purchasing
aluminum, steel, or plastic park benches
and picnic tables containing recovered
materials.
TABLE E-SA.—RECOMMENDED RE-
COVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEV-
ELS FOR PICNIC TABLES AND PARK
BENCHES CONTAINING RECOVERED
ALUMINUM, STEEL, CONCRETE OR
PLASTIC
Material
Plastics
Plastic composites
Aluminum
Concrete
Steel
Post-
con-
sumer
content
(%)
90-100
50-100
25
16-25
Total
recov-
ered
mate-
rials
content
100
100
25
15-40
100
Notes: "Plastics" includes both single and
mixed plastic resins. Picnic tables and park
benches made with recovered plastics may
also contain other recovered materials such
as sawdust, wood, or fiberglass. The
percentage of these materials contained in
the product would also count toward the
recovered materials content level of the item.
EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing park benches or picnic
tables made from other materials. They
simply require that procuring agencies,
when purchasing park benches or picnic
tables made from plastic, aluminum,
concrete, or steel purchase these items
made with recovered materials when
these items meet applicable
specifications and performance
requirements.
Specifications: EPA did not identify
any specifications for park benches or
picnic tables made from steel or
aluminum and requests comments on
whether any specifications exist or are
appropriate for these materials when
used in park benches and picnic tables.
EPA recommends that procuring
agencies use the ASTM specifications
referenced in Table E-3b for park
benches and picnic tables made from
plastic lumber.
TABLE E-3B.—RECOMMENDED SPECI-
FICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER
USED IN PARK BENCHES AND PICNIC
TABLES
ASTM speci-
fication num-
ber
D 6108-97
D 6109-97
Title
Standard Test Method for
Compressive Properties of
Plastic Lumber.
Standard Test Method for
Flexural Properties of
Unreinforced and Rein-
forced Plastic Lumber.
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TABLE E-SB.—RECOMMENDED SPECI-
FICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER
USED IN PARK BENCHES AND PICNIC
TABLES—Continued
ASTM speci-
fication num-
ber
D 6111-97...
D 6112-97 ...
D 6117-97 ...
Title
Standard Test Method for
Bulk Density and Specific
Gravity of Plastic Lumber
and Shapes by Displace-
ment.
Standard Test Method for
Compressive and Flexural
Creep and Creep Rupture
of Plastic Lumber and
Shapes.
Standard Test Method for Me-
chanical Fasteners in Plas-
tic Lumber and Shapes.
agencies establish minimum content
standards for use in purchasing
playground equipment made from
plastic lumber, steel, or aluminum
containing recovered materials.
TABLE E-4A.—RECOMMENDED RE-
COVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEV-
ELS FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
CONTAINING RECOVERED PLASTIC,
STEEL, OR ALUMINUM
Section E-4. Playground Equipment
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table E-4a, procuring
Material
Plastics
Plastic Composites
Steel
Aluminum
Post-
con-
sumer
content
(%)
90-100
50-75
25-100
25
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
(%)
100
95-100
25-100
25
Notes: "Plastics" includes both single and
mixed plastic resins. Playground equipment
made with recovered plastics may also
contain other recovered materials such as
wood or fiberglass. The percentage of these
materials contained in the product would
also count toward the recovered materials
content level of the item.
EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing playground equipment made
from other materials. They simply
require that procuring agencies, when
purchasing playground equipment made
from plastic, aluminum, or steel
purchase these items made with
recovered materials when the item,
meets applicable specifications and
performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA recommends that
procuring agencies use the
specifications in Table E-4b when
procuring playground equipment.
Playground equipment may also be
subject to state and local codes and
standards as well as Federal child safety
laws. EPA also recommends that
procuring agencies use the ASTM
specifications referenced in Table E-4c
for playground equipment made from
plastic lumber.
TABLE E-4B.—RECOMMENDED SAFETY SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
Specification
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Publication No. 325
ASTM F-1487-95
Title
Handbook for Public Playground Safety.
Safety Performance Specification for Playground
Use.
Equipment for Public
TABLE E-4C.—RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER USED IN PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
ASTM specification number
D 6108-97
D 6109-97
D 6111-97
D 61 12-97
D 61 17-97
Title
Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Plastic Lumber.
Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastic Lumber.
Standard Test Method for Bulk Density and Specific Gravity of Plastic Lumber and Shapes by
Displacement.
Standard Test Method for Compressive and Flexural Creep and Creep Rupture of Plastic
Lumber and Shapes.
Standard Test Method for Mechanical Fasteners in Plastic Lumber and Shapes.
Part F. Landscaping Products
Section F-2. Compost Made From Yard
Trimmings and/or Food Waste (Revised)
Note: Following are EPA's revised
recommendations for purchasing compost.
The revisions add recommendations for
purchasing compost made from food waste to
EPA's 1995 recommendations for purchasing
yard trimmings compost. When EPA issues
final recommendations for purchasing
composts made from yard trimmings and/or
food waste, procuring agencies should
substitute them for the recommendations
found in Section F-2 of the 1995 RMAN I.
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that procuring agencies
purchase or use compost made from
yard trimmings, leaves, grass clippings
and/or food wastes In such applications
as landscaping, seeding of grass or other
plants on roadsides and embankments,
as nutritious mulch under trees and
shrubs, and in erosion control and soil
reclamation.
EPA further recommends that those
procuring agencies that have an
adequate volume of yard trimmings,
leaves, grass clippings, and/or food
wastes, as well as sufficient space for
composting, should implement a
composting system to produce compost
from these materials to meet their
landscaping and other needs.
Specifications: EPA recommends that
procuring agencies ensure that there is
no language in their specifications
relating to landscaping, soil
amendments, erosion control, or soil
reclamation that would preclude or
discourage the use of compost. For
instance, if specifications address the
use of straw or hay in roadside
revegetation projects, procuring
agencies should assess whether compost
could substitute for straw or hay or be
used in combination with them.
The U.S. Department of
Transportation's "Standard
Specifications for Construction of Roads
and Bridges on Federal Highway
Projects 1996," specifies compost as one
of the materials suitable for use in
roadside revegetation projects
associated with road construction.
These standards do not preclude the use
of compost made from yard trimmings,
leaves, grass, clippings, and/or food
waste.
The State of Maine has developed
quality standards for compost products
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45587
that are used by its agencies and/or
purchased with state funds. The quality
standards have been set for six types of
compost products, ranging from topsoil
(three classes), to wetland substrate, to
mulch (two classes). For each of these
types of compost product, standards for
maturity, odor, texture, nutrients, pH,
salt content, organic content, pathogen
reduction, heavy metals, foreign matter,
moisture content, and density have been
established. EPA recommends that
procuring agencies obtain and adapt this
or another suitable specification for
their use in purchasing compost
products.
The Composting Council is helping to
define and develop industry wide
standards for composts made from
various combinations of materials,
including yard trimmings, leaves, grass
clippings, and food wastes. The
Composting Council publishes these
standards in an operating guide for
composting facilities entitled, "Test
Methods for Examination of Composting
and Compost." The guide also provides
standards for the suitability of different
types of composts made for different
applications, depending on the compost
mix.
Section F-5. Plastic Lumber
Landscaping Timbers and Posts
Containing Recovered Materials
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table F-5a, procuring
agencies establish minimum content
standards for use in purchasing plastic
lumber landscaping timbers and posts
containing recovered materials.
TABLE F-SA.—RECOMMENDED RECOV-
ERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS
FOR PLASTIC LUMBER LANDSCAPING
TIMBERS AND POSTS
Material
HOPE
Mixed Plastics/Sawdust
HDPE/Fiberglass
Other mixed resins
Post-
con-
sumer-
content
25-100
50
75
50-100
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
75-100
100
95
95-100
Note: EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing
wooden landscaping timbers and posts. They
simply require that procuring agencies, when
purchasing plastic landscaping timbers and
posts purchase these items made with
recovered materials when the items meet
applicable specifications and performance
requirements.
Specifications: EPA recommends that
procuring agencies use the ASTM
specifications referenced in Table F-5b
for plastic lumber landscaping timbers
and posts.
TABLE F-5B.—RECOMMENDED SPECI-
FICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER
LANDSCAPING TIMBERS AND POSTS
ASTM speci-
fication No.
D 6108-97 ...
Title
Standard Test Method for
Compressive Properties of
Plastic Lumber.
TABLE F-5B.—RECOMMENDED SPECI-
FICATIONS FOR PLASTIC LUMBER
LANDSCAPING TIMBERS AND
POSTS—Continued
ASTM speci-
fication No.
D 6109-97 ...
D 61 11-97 ...
D 61 12-97 ...
D 61 17-97 ...
Title
Standard Test Method for
Flexural Properties of
Unreinforced and Rein-
forced Plastic Lumber.
Standard Test Method for
Bulk Density and Specific
Gravity of Plastic Lumber
and Shapes by Displace-
ment.
Standard Test Method for
Compressive and Flexural
Creep and Creep Rupture
of Plastic Lumber and
Shapes.
Standard Test Method for Me-
chanical Fasteners in Plas-
tic Lumber and Shapes.
Part G. Non-Paper Office Products
Section G-8. Solid Plastic Binders,
Plastic Clipboards, Plastic File Folders,
Plastic Clip Portfolios, and Plastic
Presentation Folders Containing
Recovered Plastic
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table G-8, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards
for use in purchasing solid plastic
binders, plastic clipboards, plastic file
folders, plastic clip portfolios, and
plastic presentation folders containing
recovered materials.
TABLE G-8.—RECOMMENDED RECOVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS FOR SOLID PLASTIC BINDERS, CLIPBOARDS, FILE
FOLDERS, CLIP PORTFOLIOS, AND PRESENTATION FOLDERS
Product
Solid plastic binders
Plastic clipboards
Plastic file folders
Plastic clip portfolios
Plastic presentation folders
Material
HOPE
PE
PET
Misc. Plastics
HOPE
PS
Misc. Plastics
HOPE
HOPE
HOPE ....
Postconsumer
content (%)
Qfl
30-50
100
80
Qn
50
15
Qn
QD
Qn
Total recov-
ered mate-
rials content
(%)
an
qn_ en
100
an
^n
Hc_on
on
an
Note: EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing
binders, clipboards, file folders, clip
portfolios, or presentation folders made from
another material, such as paper. They simply
require that procuring agencies, when
purchasing these items made from solid
plastic, purchase them made with recovered
plastics when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements.
For EPA's recommendations for purchasing
pressboard binders and paper file folders
containing recovered materials, see table A-
Ic in the Paper Products RMAN (61 FR
26986, May 29, 1996). See Table G-3 in
RMAN I for EPA's recommendations for
purchasing plastic-covered binders
containing recovered materials.
Specifications: EPA did not identify
any specifications for solid plastic
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binders, clipboards, file folders, clip
portfolios, and presentation folders and
requests comments on whether any
specifications exist or are appropriate
for these items containing recovered
plastic.
Part H. Miscellaneous Products
Section H-2, Sorbents
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table H-2a. procuring
agencies establish minimum content
standards for use in purchasing sorbent
materials for use in oil and solvent
clean-ups and for use as animal
bedding.
TABLE H-2A.—RECOMMENDED RE-
COVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEV-
ELS FOR SORBENTS USED IN OIL
AND SOLVENTS CLEAN-UPS AND FOR
USE AS ANIMAL BEDDING
Material
Paper
Textiles
Wood
Other Organtcs/Multi-
Malerials
Post-
con-
sumer
content
(%)
90-100
95-100
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
(%)
100
95-100
25-100
100
100
Notes: "Wood" Includes materials such as
sawdust and lumber mill trimmings.
Examples of other organics include, but are
not limited to, peanut hulls and corn stover.
An example of multi-material sorbents would
Include, but not be limited to, a polymer and
cellulose fiber combination.
EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing sorbents made from other
materials. They simply require that
procuring agencies, when purchasing
sorbents made from paper, wood,
textiles, plastics, or other organic
materials, purchase them made with
recovered materials when these items
meet applicable specifications and
performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA. recommends that
procuring agencies ensure that there is
no language in their specifications for
sorbents that would preclude or
discourage the use of products
containing recovered materials.
EPA recommends that procuring
agencies use the ASTM specifications in
Table H-2b when procuring sorbents for
use on oil and solvent clean-ups.
TABLE H-2B.—ASTM SPECIFICATIONS
FOR ABSORBENTS AND ADSORBENTS
ASTM
specifica-
tion No.
F 716-81
F716-82
Title
Standard Method of Testing Sor-
bent Performance of Adsorb-
ents.
Standard Method of Testing Sor-
bent Performance of
Absorbents.
Section H-3. Industrial Drums
Containing Recovered Steel, Plastic, and
Paper
Preference Program: EPA recommends
that, based on the recovered materials
content levels shown in Table H-3,
procuring agencies establish minimum
content standards for use in purchasing
steel, plastic, or fiber industrial drums
containing recovered materials. EPA
further recommends that procuring
agencies reuse drums, purchase or use
reconditioned drums, or procure drum
reconditioning services, whenever
feasible.
TABLE H-3.—RECOMMENDED RECOV-
ERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS
FOR STEEL, PLASTIC, AND FIBER IN-
DUSTRIAL DRUMS
Product
Steel
drums.
Plastic
drums.
Fiber
drums.
Material
Steel
HOPE
Paper
Post
con-
sumer
content
16
30-100
100
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
20-30
30-100
100
Note: EPA's recommendation does not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing
another type of industrial drum. It simply
requires that procuring agencies, when
purchasing steel, plastic, or fiber industrial
drums, purchase these items made with
recovered materials when these items meet
applicable specifications and performance
requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of
specifications unique to industrial
drums containing recovered materials.
EPA notes that industrial drums
containing recovered materials can meet
applicable U.S. Department of
Transportation specifications for
packaging hazardous materials.
Additionally, the National Motor
Freight Traffic Association
specifications for containers used to
transport goods via truck do not prohibit
the use of industrial drums containing
recovered materials.
Section H-4. Awards and Plaques
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table H-4, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards
for use in purchasing awards and
plaques containing recovered materials.
TABLE H-4.—RECOMMENDED RECOV-
ERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS
FOR AWARDS AND PLAQUES CON-
TAINING RECOVERED MATERIALS .
Material
Glass
Wood
Paper
Plastic and Plastic/
Wood Composite
Post-
con-
sumer
content
(%)
75-100
40-100
50-100
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
(%)
100
100
40-100
95-100
Note: EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing
awards or plaques made from other materials.
They simply require that procuring agencies,
when purchasing awards or plaques made
from paper, wood, glass, or plastics/plastic
composites, purchase them made with
recovered materials when these items meet
applicable specifications and performance
requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of
specifications or standards for awards or
plaques containing recovered materials
and requests comments on whether any
applicable specifications or standards
have been developed.
Section H-5. Mats
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table H-5, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards
for use in purchasing mats containing
recovered materials.
TABLE H-5.—RECOMMENDED RECOV-
ERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS
FOR MATS
Material
Rubber
Plastic
Rubber/Plastic Composite
Post-
con-
sumer
content
(%)
75-100
10-100
100
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
(%)
85-100
100
100
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45589
Note: EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing
mats made from other materials. They simply
require that procuring agencies, when
purchasing mats made from rubber and/or
plastic, purchase them made with recovered
materials when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of
specifications or standards for mats
containing recovered materials and
requests comments on whether any
applicable specifications or standards
have been developed. EPA is aware of
one ASTM specification for wrestling
mats, but does not believe that this type
of mat is purchased in appreciable
quantities by procuring agencies.
Section H-6. Manual-Grade Strapping
Containing Recovered Steel and Plastic
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table H-6a, procuring
agencies establish minimum content
standards for use in purchasing manual-
grade strapping containing recovered
materials.
TABLE H-6A.—RECOMMENDED RE-
COVERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEV-
ELS FOR MANUAL-GRADE POLY-
ESTER, POLYPROPYLENE, AND STEEL
STRAPPING
Product
Polyester
strapping.
Polv-
propyl-
ene
strapping.
Steel strap-
ping.
Material
PET
PP
Steel
Post-
con-
sumer
content
(%)
50-85
10-15
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
(%)
50-85
10-40
25-100
Note: EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing
another type of strapping, such as nylon.
They simply require that procuring agencies,
when purchasing polyester, polypropylene,
or steel manual-grade strapping, purchase
these items made with recovered materials
when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of
specifications unique to strapping
containing recovered materials. EPA
notes that strapping containing
recovered materials can meet the ASTM
strapping specifications and selection
guide listed in Table H-6b.
Table H-6b.—RECOMMENDED ASTM SPECIFICATIONS AND GUIDE FOR STRAPPING
ASTM specifica-
tion/guide No.
ASTM D 3953 ...
ASTM D 3950 ...
ASTM D 4675 ...
Title
Standard Specification for Strapping, Flat Steel and Seals.
Standard Specification for Strapping, Nonmetallic (and Joining Methods).
Standard Guide for Selection and Use of Flat Strapping Materials.
Section H-7. Signage
Preference Program: EPA
recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table H-7, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards
for use in purchasing plastic signs for
non-road applications (e.g., building
signs, trail signs) and aluminum signs
for roadway or non-road applications
containing recovered materials. EPA
also recommends that, based on the
recovered materials content levels
shown in Table H-7, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards
for use in purchasing sign supports and
posts containing recovered plastic or
steel.
TABLE H-7.—RECOMMENDED RECOV-
ERED MATERIALS CONTENT LEVELS
FOR SIGNS CONTAINING RECOVERED
PLASTIC OR ALUMINUM AND SIGN
POSTS/SUPPORTS CONTAINING RE-
COVERED PLASTIC OR STEEL
Item/material
Plastic signs
Aluminum signs
Plastic sign posts/sup-
ports
Steel sign posts/sup-
ports
Post
sumer
content
80-100
25
80-100
25-100
Total re-
covered
mate-
rials
content
80-100
25
80-100
25-100
Notes: Plastic signs and sign posts are
recommended for nonroad applications only
such as, but not limited to, trailway signs in
parks and directional/informational signs in
buildings.
EPA's recommendations do not
preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing signs or sign posts made
from other materials. They simply
require that procuring agencies, when
purchasing signs made from plastic or
aluminum or sign posts made from
plastic or steel, purchase them made
with recovered materials when these
items meet applicable specifications and
performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of
specifications for non-road signs
containing recovered materials.
Standard specifications for road sign
size, lettering, color, strength, and
performance requirements can be found
in the "Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices," which is published by
the Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-22794 Filed 8-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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AEPA
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
(5305W)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
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United States Office of Water
Environmental Protection Agency 4304
EPA-822-F-98-004
July 1998
FACTSHEET
Draft Revisions to the Methodology for Deriving
Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the
Protection of Human Health
Abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to revise the methodology used to
develop human health water quality criteria published in accordance with the Clean Water
Act. These revisions, once finalized, will replace the existing 1980 National guidelines and
methodology. These revisions are being made at this time to incorporate the many
significant scientific advances that have occurred during the past 18 years in such key
areas as cancer and noncancer risk assessments, exposure assessments, and
bioaccumulation in fish.
Human Health Water Quality Criteria
Human health water quality criteria are numeric
values limiting chemical concentrations in
ambient waters. The criteria are developed under
Section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act of 1972
(CWA) and are based solely on data and
scientific judgments on the relationship between
pollutant concentrations and environmental and
human health effects. Protective assumptions are
made regarding the exposure intakes that humans
may experience. These criteria do not reflect
consideration of economic impacts or the
technological feasibility of meeting the chemical
concentrations in ambient water. The criteria are
used by states and regions to establish water
quality standards and ultimately provide a basis
for controlling discharges or releases of
pollutants.
EPA Methodology for Deriving Criteria
States and authorized Indian tribes must develop
water quality standards that include designated
uses and water quality criteria necessary to
support those uses. The Methodology is the
guidance for states and tribes to help them
establish water quality criteria and standards to
protect human health. It provides the detailed
means for developing the water quality criteria,
including systematic procedures for evaluating
cancer risk, noncancer health effects, human
exposure, and bioaccumulation potential in fish.
EPA Methodology Revisions
EPA periodically revises water quality criteria to
ensure that they accurately reflect the latest
scientific knowledge on the kind and extent of all
identifiable effects on health and welfare which
may be expected from the presence of pollutants
in any body of water, including ground water.
Since 1980, many significant scientific advances
have occurred which necessitate the revisions.
Specifically, advances in such key areas as
cancer and noncancer risk assessments, exposure
assessments, and bioaccumulation make the
revisions critical at this time. Therefore, EPA is
updating its Ambient Water Quality Criteria
(AWQC) Methodology to provide states and
tribes with the most current procedures to reflect
these changes in risk and exposure assessment.
States and tribes will need to modify their water
quality criteria to be consistent with current
Agency practices.
General Background of the Revision Process
To begin developing a "state-of-the-science"
approach revising the 1980 AWQC National
Guidelines, EPA (along with other federal
agencies, state health organizations, Canadian
health agencies, academies, environmental and
industry groups, and consulting organizations)
prepared an issues paper that described the 1980
methodology, discussed areas that needed
strengthening, and recommended revisions. The
paper was distributed for review and comment
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and was examined at a 1992 workshop, where
more than 100 participants discussed critical
issues. Based on individual expertise, attendees
were assigned to specific technical workgroups.
The workgroups' topics included cancer risk,
noncancer risk, exposure, microbiology,
minimum data and bioaccumulation in fish.
After reviewing the draft of the recommended
revisions to the methodology developed by EPA
and the workshop participants, a summary
document was submitted for review and
comment by the EPA Science Advisory Board
(SAB). Once final comments and revisions had
been received from the board, the
recommendations were again reviewed at a
meeting of the Federal State Toxicology and Risk
Analysis Committee, where state representatives
presented their opinions on the preliminary draft
recommendations.
Major Methodology Revisions
The major revisions are in four assessment areas:
noncancer, cancer, exposure, and
bioaccumulation. Equations have been developed
for deriving AWQC, including parameters
relevant to these four assessment areas, which are
derived from scientific analysis, science policy
and risk management decisions.
For noncarcinogens, the process for deriving an
acceptable level of exposure—known as the
Reference Dose (ROD) value—has evolved over
time.
• EPA has developed guidance on assessing
noncarcuiogenic effects of chemicals and for
the RfD derivation.
» The Methodology revisions recommend
consideration of other issues related to the
RfD process including: integrating
reproductive/ developmental,
immunotoxicity, and neurotoxicity data into
the calculation.
» EPA intends to allow the use of a range
around the RfD point estimate to reflect the
inherent imprecision of the RfD. EPA would
select the midpoint of the range as a default
when calculating a 304(a) criteria value for
use in state, tribal, or regional water quality
standards and require justification if a state
or tribe proposes a different value within the
range.
• EPA is recommending the use of
quantitative dose-response modelling for the
derivation of RfDs.
For carcinogen (cancer) risk assessment, more
sophisticated methods to comprehensively
determine the likely mechanism that causes
human carcinogenicity are being recommended.
• EPA is recommending a mode of action
(MoA) approach to determine the most
appropriate low-dose extrapolation for
carcinogenic agents.
• The MoA approach follows EPA's 1996
proposal of revised cancer guidelines and
considers all biological information (rather
than just tumor findings).
Changes in the area of exposure assessment
include the following.
• States and tribes are encouraged to use local
studies on fish consumption that better
reflect local intake patterns and choices.
• EPA will recommend default fish
consumption values for the general
population, recreational fishers and
subsistence fishers.
• A factor to account for other sources of
exposure, such as food and air is included
when deriving AWQC for noncarcinogens
and nonlinear carcinogens (i.e., the dose is
not allocated to drinking water and fish
consumption alone).
The new National AWQC Guidelines place
greater emphasis on the use of bioaccumulation
factors (BAFs) compared to the 1980 Guidelines
for estimating potential human exposure to
contaminants via the consumption of
contaminated fish and shellfish.
• BAFs reflect the accumulation of chemicals
by aquatic organisms from all surrounding
media (water, food, sediment). Compared to
Bioconcentration Factors (BCFs), which
reflect chemical accumulation by aquatic
organisms from water only, BAFs are
considered to be better predictors of
chemical accumulation by fish and shellfish
for chemicals where exposure from food and
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sediment is important (e.g., highly persistent,
hydrophobic chemicals).
• EPA gives preference to the use of high
quality field data over laboratory or model-
derived estimates for deriving BAFs, since
field data best reflect factors which can
affect the extent of bioaccumlation (e.g.,
chemical metabolism, food web structure).
Methodology Revisions Implementation by
EPA/States
EPA's future role in developing AWQC for the
protection of human health will include:
• The refinement of the revised methodology
based on public comments received,
• The development of revised criteria for
chemicals of high priority and national
importance (including, but not limited to
chemicals that bioaccumulate, such as
PCBs, dioxin, and mercury), and
• The development or revision of AWQC for
some additional priority chemicals.
EPA does not plan to completely revise all of the
criteria developed in 1980 or those updated as
part of the 1992 National Toxics Rule (NTR).
Partial updates of all-criteria may be.plausible.
EPA encourages states, tribes and EPA Regional
Offices to use the revised methodology to
develop or revise AWQC to appropriately reflect
local conditions. EPA believes that AWQC
inherently require several risk management
decisions that are, in many cases, better made at
the state and regional level (e.g., fish
consumption rates, target risk levels). EPA will
continue to develop and update necessary
toxicology and exposure data needed in the
derivation of AWQC that may not be practical
for the states and regions to obtain.
Affect on State and EPA Regional Offices
The revised methodology will provide more
flexibility for decision-making at the state, tribal
and EPA regional level. EPA believes the
AWQC inherently require several risk
management decisions that are, in many cases,
better made at the state, tribal and regional level.
It is most likely that the methodology will result
in more stringent criteria for bioaccumulatives
(due to the use of BAFs instead of BCFs) and
generally similar, or less stringent, values of
nonbioaccumulatives.
Affect on Existing Criteria
Existing criteria will continue to be used in the
following ways:
• As guidance to states, tribes and regions for
use in establishing water quality standards;
• As the basis for EPA promulgation of water
quality standards; and
• In establishing water quality-based permit
limits for industrial effluent discharges (i.e.,
NPDES limits), where the criteria have been
adopted by a state, tribe or region or
promulgated by EPA.
Until such time as EPA re-evaluates a chemical,.
subjects the criteria to appropriate peer review,
and subsequently publishes a revised chemical-
specific 304(a) criteria, the existing criteria
remain in effect.
Information
For additional information concerning these
recommended methodology revisions, contact
Denis Borum, Health and Ecological Criteria
Division (4304), 401 M Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C., 20460 (telephone: 202- 260-
8996).
You may view the Federal Register notice that
describes these recommended methodology
revisions on the Internet at:
http://www.epa.gov/OST/. The notice gives
complete information on how to obtain additional
information, how to review the complete
administrative record for these recommended
methodology revisions, and how to solicit public
comment.
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